GAINESVILLE — The Lakeview Academy and Prince Avenue girls and the Lakeview Academy and Athens Christian boys all advanced to the state tournament after taking wins Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Region 8-A Tournament at the Lakeview Academy gym.
The No. 1 seed Lakeview Academy boys ran out to a big lead and then held off cross-town rival Riverside Military Academy 59-45 to advance.
The Lions (21-5) stormed out to a 24-6 first quarter advantage and never let up, taking a 38-10 lead into halftime. They held the Eagles to just 24 points through the first three quarters while building a 48-24 edge. Riverside used a 21-point fourth quarter to pull closer, but it wasn't enough.
Drew Cottrell led Lakeview with 16 points. Tre Gober and Josh Randolph each had 11 for the Lions, while Randolph also pulled down 11 rebounds.
Wiley Burns paced Riverside with 14 points. Daryle White added 13, 11 in the second half, and Khalid Duke had 11, with nine of his coming after halftime, for the Eagles.
The Lakeview boys now await Wednesday's Prince Avenue-Towns County winner in Friday's 8:30 p.m. semifinals.
LAKEVIEW GIRLS 61,
ATHENS CHRISTIAN 39
The No. 1 seed Lakeview Academy girls clobbered Athens Christian behind Hanna Grogan and Ryann Moody, who each poured in 17 points.
The Lady Lions (22-4) extended a 15-11 lead to a 30-15 halftime advantage, holding the Lady Eagles to just seven second quarter points. They also got nine points from Tori Taylor.
The Lakeview girls next will take on Wednesday's George Walton-Towns County winner at 7 p.m. Friday at the Lakeview gym in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the Prince Avenue girls beat Providence Christian 44-13 to advance. The Lady Wolverines will play the winner of the Tallulah Falls-Athens Academy game on Friday at 4 p.m. in the semifinals.
Also, the Athens Christian boys held off Hebron Christian 51-44 in the other quarterfinal of the night. The Eagles will take on the Tallulah Falls-George Walton winner in the semifinals on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
